In a pioneering breakthrough in robotics, a team from Zhejiang University, in collaboration with the robotics startups Mirror Me and Kaierda, has unveiled ‘Bolt,’ a humanoid robot capable of reaching an astonishing speed of 10 meters per second.
Named after the legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, this extraordinary achievement propels the robot beyond the capabilities of most human athletes, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of robotic performance.
The development of Bolt signals a major progression in robot movement control, dynamic balance, and high-performance drive systems. In a highly publicised video Wang Hongtao, the head of the research institute and founder of Mirror Me, raced against the robot on treadmills.
Although Bolt’s stride was shorter, its superior speed and balance enabled it to surpass Wang demonstrating its exceptional capabilities in real-world conditions.
This is not the first triumph for the team. In 2025, they set a speed record for quadruped robots with their ‘Black Panther,’ which also achieved speeds exceeding 10 meters per second.
Furthermore, at the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing last year, the Tien Kung humanoid robot claimed victory in the 100-metre race, completing the distance in a remarkable time of 21.5 seconds.
With these impressive achievements, the team continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in robotic technology, suggesting a future where machines may rival human performance in athletic pursuits.
